<p>A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air&nbsp;clicking photos. An influencer has just arrived at a fashion show.</p>

<p>This is the scene that has played out day after day at Milan Fashion Week, where live shows began Wednesday, all accompanied by crowds of fashion hopefuls, fans and photographers hoping to capture a perfect Instagram shot of their favourite influencer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At Versace on Friday night, hundreds of fans crushed against a barrier to catch a glimpse of someone -- anyone -- photo-worthy to later post on social media. Every few minutes, dozens of fans would dash to another area of the barricade at the sound of a vehicle.</p>

<p>"We just saw a black car come in, but we saw nothing," said Riccardo Capobianco, 24, in the crowd with his friend Irina. "We have no idea what's happening."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ditto with Sarah Pilot, 22, an American student surrounded by her girlfriends.&nbsp; "We're kind of laughing at ourselves watching," she admitted sheepishly.</p>

<p>A scream went up in the crowd, but cut off quickly, as a new group of people entering the show came into view.&nbsp; "Are those just average people with tickets?" one of the girls asked.</p>

<p>Nobody becomes somebody -</p>

<p>Outside Prada, Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Moschino, Max Mara and other shows, the sidewalk is the new catwalk for fashion wannabes, the Instagram stars they worship and photographers from all across the globe -- mostly freelancers or amateurs -- who capture it all.</p>

<p>But who are these people pouting at the camera, flipping their hair and pursing their lips?</p>

<p>"They're all Instagram fashionistas," London photographer Ash Mahmood, 26 told AFP. "They're nobody turned into somebody. That's how it works." The amateur photographers hope their subjects -- with their thousands even millions of followers -- will repost their photos, gaining exposure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the exercise isn't even about fashion, or beauty for that matter, but recognisability, they acknowledged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A photo of just anyone isn't worth anything," said Marco Tadini, 60, one of the sidewalk's professionals. "You can be gorgeous but it doesn't count a bit".</p>

<p>Outside Dolce &amp; Gabbana was influencer and model Rahi Chadda -- who has over one million followers on Instagram -- sporting a neon green tailored jacket, matching turtleneck and painted black jeans.</p>

<p>Chadda told AFP he was never really sure who was taking his photo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But when you're at the shows throughout the season you start to recognise their faces," he said.&nbsp; Two American fashion students looking bemused at Fendi said it was their first time outside a show.</p>

<p>New Yorker Taylor May, 20, said she was used to seeing "a lot of weird fashion" back at home so was curious to see what was on display in Milan -- namely neon colours and maxi skirts.</p>

<p>So far they haven't recognised anyone entering the fashion show.</p>

<p>"We're lost but we can see who's getting their picture taken," said her friend Kia Patterson, 21, from Missouri.&nbsp;That didn't mean all the fashion was good, May cautioned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One of the outfits, I was like 'Nooooo'...." she said.</p>

<p>Back outside Versace, the squeals from the fans and the mad rushes at the barricades to catch a glimpse of arriving guests were starting to get old for Sara Pelizzoli, 22, and her friend Paola Cecinati, 21. "They're a little fanatic, they could calm down a little bit," Pelizzoli said.</p>


A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air clicking photos. An influencer has just arrived at a fashion show.

A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air clicking photos. An influencer has just arrived at a fashion show. This is the scene that has played out day after day at Milan Fashion Week, where live shows began Wednesday, all accompanied by crowds of fashion hopefuls, fans and photographers hoping to capture a perfect Instagram shot of their favourite influencer. At Versace on Friday night, hundreds of fans crushed against a barrier to catch a glimpse of someone -- anyone -- photo-worthy to later post on social media. Every few minutes, dozens of fans would dash to another area of the barricade at the sound of a vehicle. "We just saw a black car come in, but we saw nothing," said Riccardo Capobianco, 24, in the crowd with his friend Irina. "We have no idea what's happening." Ditto with Sarah Pilot, 22, an American student surrounded by her girlfriends. "We're kind of laughing at ourselves watching," she admitted sheepishly. A scream went up in the crowd, but cut off quickly, as a new group of people entering the show came into view. "Are those just average people with tickets?" one of the girls asked. Nobody becomes somebody - Outside Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Max Mara and other shows, the sidewalk is the new catwalk for fashion wannabes, the Instagram stars they worship and photographers from all across the globe -- mostly freelancers or amateurs -- who capture it all. But who are these people pouting at the camera, flipping their hair and pursing their lips? "They're all Instagram fashionistas," London photographer Ash Mahmood, 26 told AFP. "They're nobody turned into somebody. That's how it works." The amateur photographers hope their subjects -- with their thousands even millions of followers -- will repost their photos, gaining exposure. But the exercise isn't even about fashion, or beauty for that matter, but recognisability, they acknowledged. "A photo of just anyone isn't worth anything," said Marco Tadini, 60, one of the sidewalk's professionals. "You can be gorgeous but it doesn't count a bit". Outside Dolce & Gabbana was influencer and model Rahi Chadda -- who has over one million followers on Instagram -- sporting a neon green tailored jacket, matching turtleneck and painted black jeans. Chadda told AFP he was never really sure who was taking his photo. "But when you're at the shows throughout the season you start to recognise their faces," he said. Two American fashion students looking bemused at Fendi said it was their first time outside a show. New Yorker Taylor May, 20, said she was used to seeing "a lot of weird fashion" back at home so was curious to see what was on display in Milan -- namely neon colours and maxi skirts. So far they haven't recognised anyone entering the fashion show. "We're lost but we can see who's getting their picture taken," said her friend Kia Patterson, 21, from Missouri. That didn't mean all the fashion was good, May cautioned. "One of the outfits, I was like 'Nooooo'...." she said. Back outside Versace, the squeals from the fans and the mad rushes at the barricades to catch a glimpse of arriving guests were starting to get old for Sara Pelizzoli, 22, and her friend Paola Cecinati, 21. "They're a little fanatic, they could calm down a little bit," Pelizzoli said.

Sidewalk is new catwalk outside Milan fashion shows

<p>Rihanna continues to slay with her maternity fashion!&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Taking the fashion game a notch higher, parents-to-be A$AP Rocky and Rihanna stepped out and attended Milan Fashion week in all styles.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The couple, who are expecting their first child together, sat in the front row at Gucci’s Fall 2022 show on Friday 25 February.</p>

<p><a href="http://13.235.153.162/photos/birthday-special-rihanna-and-her-next-level-maternity-fashion-see-pics-454642" hreflang="en">Rihanna and her next level maternity fashion, see pics</a></p>

<p>Rihanna showed off her growing baby bump in a short leather crop top with dragon-printed black pants and was carrying a fluffy lavender coat with her black look.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Talking about her accessories, Riri was wearing a Cleopatra-style mirror glass headpiece and matched it with several necklaces.<br />
<br />
Daddy-to-be A$AP also opted for an all-black look with mustard ski gloves and was also carrying a large Gucci suitcase.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Ever since she announced her pregnancy, Rihanna is continuously giving out some serious maternity looks. In an interview, she revealed how fashion helps her feel most confident these days. "Right now, being pregnant, some days you just feel like, 'Ugh, I just want to lay here on this couch all day.' But when you put on a little face and a little lipstick, you transform," she shared.<br />
<br />
"You put some clothes on, and it's like, when you look good, you feel good," Rihanna continued. "I've heard that for a very long time, but it's true. It really can get you up off that couch and make you feel like a bad bitch."</p>

<p>Rihanna revealed last month that she's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rihanna-is-pregnant-expecting-her-first-child-with-beau-aap-rocky-449299">&nbsp;expecting&nbsp;</a>her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. The couple has been dating since November 2020.</p>

<p>Milan Fashion Week ends Monday.&nbsp;</p>


Rihanna continues to slay with her maternity fashion! Taking the fashion game a notch higher, parents-to-be A$AP Rocky and Rihanna stepped out and attended Milan Fashion week in all styles.

Rihanna continues to slay with her maternity fashion! Taking the fashion game a notch higher, parents-to-be A$AP Rocky and Rihanna stepped out and attended Milan Fashion week in all styles. The couple, who are expecting their first child together, sat in the front row at Gucci’s Fall 2022 show on Friday 25 February. Rihanna and her next level maternity fashion, see pics Rihanna showed off her growing baby bump in a short leather crop top with dragon-printed black pants and was carrying a fluffy lavender coat with her black look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R&B • RNB • SOUL • FUNK (@rnbmusic) × Talking about her accessories, Riri was wearing a Cleopatra-style mirror glass headpiece and matched it with several necklaces. Daddy-to-be A$AP also opted for an all-black look with mustard ski gloves and was also carrying a large Gucci suitcase. Ever since she announced her pregnancy, Rihanna is continuously giving out some serious maternity looks. In an interview, she revealed how fashion helps her feel most confident these days. "Right now, being pregnant, some days you just feel like, 'Ugh, I just want to lay here on this couch all day.' But when you put on a little face and a little lipstick, you transform," she shared. "You put some clothes on, and it's like, when you look good, you feel good," Rihanna continued. "I've heard that for a very long time, but it's true. It really can get you up off that couch and make you feel like a bad bitch." Rihanna revealed last month that she's expecting her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. The couple has been dating since November 2020. Milan Fashion Week ends Monday.

Pregnant Rihanna turns heads with her ravishing look at Milan

<p>The fashion set put their best face forward on Thursday despite worries over the invasion of Ukraine, as Milan Fashion Week guests and workers vowed to go on with the shows.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lineup, which included Emporio Armani, MM6 Maison Margiela, Prada and Moschino, appeared to go off with all the studied nonchalance expected at fashion events -- but some admitted it was hard to focus, given the situation in the East.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One Ukranian stylist and creative director, Anna Mazzhyk, said she was awoken by her parents at seven am, only to learn "Russia is attacking Ukraine right now," she told AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I was crying before the first show because it's difficult for me," said the 22-year-old Kyiv native, outfitted in a puffy Prada vest and surrounded by her equally spruced-up friends.&nbsp; "We're all wearing sunglasses to cover up our puffy eyes," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Belgian model Louise Robert said that Ukranian model bookers backstage at Prada were visibly upset, trying to figure out when and how they could go home.&nbsp; "It was like a bomb -- an emotional bomb," Robert said.</p>

<p>Still, makeup artist Chiara Tipaldi, 24, had acknowledged at Max Mara that although everyone was aware of the latest news, the fashion world operated as "a parallel universe". "It tries to be cut off from what goes on in the world," Tipaldi said.</p>

<p>One French videographer inside the show, who gave his name as just "Etienne", said perhaps that was for the best.</p>

<p>"I think most people are crushed," he said. "But we can't do politics inside here."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indeed, the runways offered up distractions galore for guests, including Kim Kardashian -- thus far the fashion week's biggest celebrity -- in the front row at Prada, sheathed in avocado and black leather, to watch a newly redheaded sister Kendall on the catwalk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At Prada, co-designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons paired simple white tank tops with narrow, tiered cigarette skirts adorned with spangles, leather, or transparent panels at the thighs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shoulders were oversized on black dresses that incorporated chains at an angle at the neck, while tweed overcoats offered a touch of whimsy with poofs of curly lambswool at the biceps in green, pink or blue.</p>

<p>&nbsp;- Cages at Cavalli -</p>

<p>Earlier, Max Mara's Ian Griffiths showed a comforting collection whose brown and cream tones and rich textures brought a reassuring sobriety to the mix -- even as an eerily discordant musical soundtrack appeared to recall the news everyone was valiantly trying to forget.</p>

<p>Fuzzy teddy bear-style wool was seen on bomber jackets, overcoats, even pants and shorts, while an oversize quilted, double-faced puffer coat was just what the doctor ordered in these trying times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It even looked as if it could double as a sleeping bag. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And for those who like fashion loud and in your face, Roberto Cavalli presented on Wednesday night a theatrical collection of what designer Fausto Puglisi called "cage dresses", with bands of fabric barely covering strategic parts of the torso, together with the label's signature over-the-top animal prints.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cheetah bodysuits. Faux reptile capes. Leopard, leather, and fringe together -- what's not to love when the world is falling apart? &nbsp;</p>

<p>Lush mohair bodices in jewel tones of emerald combined with high leather collars, straps and metal rings -- as if a naughty Elizabethan princess suddenly found herself in the dungeon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fashion show usher Alessandro Vailatti said he thought no one should be ashamed at feeling uplifted by the flights of fancy on display.</p>

<p>"It's important that we distract ourselves."&nbsp;</p>


The fashion set put their best face forward on Thursday despite worries over the invasion of Ukraine, as Milan Fashion Week guests and workers vowed to go on with the shows.

The fashion set put their best face forward on Thursday despite worries over the invasion of Ukraine, as Milan Fashion Week guests and workers vowed to go on with the shows. The lineup, which included Emporio Armani, MM6 Maison Margiela, Prada and Moschino, appeared to go off with all the studied nonchalance expected at fashion events -- but some admitted it was hard to focus, given the situation in the East. One Ukranian stylist and creative director, Anna Mazzhyk, said she was awoken by her parents at seven am, only to learn "Russia is attacking Ukraine right now," she told AFP. "I was crying before the first show because it's difficult for me," said the 22-year-old Kyiv native, outfitted in a puffy Prada vest and surrounded by her equally spruced-up friends. "We're all wearing sunglasses to cover up our puffy eyes," she said. Belgian model Louise Robert said that Ukranian model bookers backstage at Prada were visibly upset, trying to figure out when and how they could go home. "It was like a bomb -- an emotional bomb," Robert said. Still, makeup artist Chiara Tipaldi, 24, had acknowledged at Max Mara that although everyone was aware of the latest news, the fashion world operated as "a parallel universe". "It tries to be cut off from what goes on in the world," Tipaldi said. One French videographer inside the show, who gave his name as just "Etienne", said perhaps that was for the best. "I think most people are crushed," he said. "But we can't do politics inside here." Indeed, the runways offered up distractions galore for guests, including Kim Kardashian -- thus far the fashion week's biggest celebrity -- in the front row at Prada, sheathed in avocado and black leather, to watch a newly redheaded sister Kendall on the catwalk. At Prada, co-designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons paired simple white tank tops with narrow, tiered cigarette skirts adorned with spangles, leather, or transparent panels at the thighs. Shoulders were oversized on black dresses that incorporated chains at an angle at the neck, while tweed overcoats offered a touch of whimsy with poofs of curly lambswool at the biceps in green, pink or blue. - Cages at Cavalli - Earlier, Max Mara's Ian Griffiths showed a comforting collection whose brown and cream tones and rich textures brought a reassuring sobriety to the mix -- even as an eerily discordant musical soundtrack appeared to recall the news everyone was valiantly trying to forget. Fuzzy teddy bear-style wool was seen on bomber jackets, overcoats, even pants and shorts, while an oversize quilted, double-faced puffer coat was just what the doctor ordered in these trying times. It even looked as if it could double as a sleeping bag. And for those who like fashion loud and in your face, Roberto Cavalli presented on Wednesday night a theatrical collection of what designer Fausto Puglisi called "cage dresses", with bands of fabric barely covering strategic parts of the torso, together with the label's signature over-the-top animal prints. Cheetah bodysuits. Faux reptile capes. Leopard, leather, and fringe together -- what's not to love when the world is falling apart? Lush mohair bodices in jewel tones of emerald combined with high leather collars, straps and metal rings -- as if a naughty Elizabethan princess suddenly found herself in the dungeon. Fashion show usher Alessandro Vailatti said he thought no one should be ashamed at feeling uplifted by the flights of fancy on display. "It's important that we distract ourselves."

'Sunglasses hide tears' as show goes on at Milan Fashion Week

Italian fashion house Fendi on Thursday (February 20) staged a star-studded, size and age inclusive show in Milan, presenting a Fall/Winter collection of fitted feminine looks.

Fendi holds starry, inclusive Fall Winter show

Social media are being credited with democratising the landscape of fashion in London and New York.<br />
<br />
But in Milan&#39;s swankiest shopping street, an end to the industry&#39;s ingrained elitism, with its invitation-only events and cosy tribalism, still seems a long way off.<br />
<br />
Via Montenapoleone, home to the flagship stores of the cream of Italian design, is where the conceptual currency of the catwalks is converted into hard cash.<br />
<br />
And in its glittering stores, platinum credit cards will keep the cash tills ringing long after the fashionistas have decamped to the next catwalk fest in Paris.<br />
<br />
Window-shopping with a friend, local Lila Sciacca says few in the city would dispute the economic benefits of fashion week: 48 million Euros ($54 million) was City Hall&#39;s estimate of the revenues driven by the last bash.<br />
<br />
An amateur dressmaker, Sciacca is one of millions of fashion fans who stream live webcasts of the catwalk shows to digital devices.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
But the exclusivity of the shows still rankles.<br />
<br />
&quot;At the shows it is always the same cast of people,&quot; she told AFP. &quot;If you are not an insider or in the business, you have to be connected.<br />
<br />
&quot;And let&#39;s be frank, how many people can actually afford these clothes we are talking about when every day is a struggle to survive?&quot;<br />
<br />
Also grumbling over fashion&#39;s exclusive reflexes is Milan&#39;s new mayor, Giuseppe Sala.<br />
<br />
The organiser of last year&#39;s successful World Expo, Sala recently told fashion chiefs that, &quot;in terms of participation, there is much more than can be done.&quot;<br />
<br />
Italy&#39;s Chamber of Fashion hit back, citing 30 publicly accessible events running in parallel with the latest shows.<br />
<br />
Among them was &quot;Outside In&quot;, an open air exhibition of new images by acclaimed British photographer Rankin that lined Via Montenapoleone.<br />
<br />
A veteran of the days when the club of fashion obsessives was much smaller than it is now, Rankin says his images of models in boxes displaying different emotions was designed as a celebration rather than a critique.<br />
<br />
&quot;I really hate elitism in itself, so I am probably the opposite of most of the industry,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
&quot;But the art of fashion is something I have come to appreciate more and more so I did not want (the street exhibition) to be negative, I wanted it to be a celebration of what it is about.&quot;<br />
<br />
The photo-sharing website Instagram has had a hugely disruptive impact on the fashion world.<br />
<br />
The vast followings of models like Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevigne have made them hugely influential players, giving them the kind of commercial clout that was once the preserve of a handful of editors of glossy magazines.<br />
<br />
Rankin, the co-founder of influential 1990s style magazine Dazed &amp; Confused, says the change is exciting, even if he has some misgivings.<br />
<br />
&quot;I love photography so much I can&#39;t not get excited by a whole new generation that maybe would never have had the opportunity to learn or even think you can go to college to do photography<br />
<br />
&quot;At the same time I studied for six years to become a photographer so when somebody shows me their Instagram picture I go slightly &#39;whoah&#39;.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;David Bailey had a great quote when he was asked about Instagram and social media and said &#39;It is just lots more people taking bad photos&#39;.<br />
<br />
&quot;Instagram and social media and being able to buy straight form the catwalk is the antithesis of what it used to be about.<br />
<br />
&quot;It used to be a small world but it has gone from 100,000 people to maybe two to three million that are absolutely obsessed by it.&quot;<br />
<br />
The Rankin exhibition was the latest in a series commissioned by Guglielmo Miani, president of the Via Montenapoleone Association, an organisation comprised of 140 luxury brands associated with the famous street.<br />
<br />
Miani says allegations of snobbish exclusiveness are wide of the mark. &quot;The truth is that this is a working week for professionals so it is, in a way, a closed circuit. That is why we decided to have an open-to-everyone exhibition.&quot;<br />
<br />
Growing online sales are also part of the disruptive wave fashion is currently surfing but Miani is confident it is one Via Montenapoleone and its counterparts in London, Paris and elsewhere can ride out.<br />
<br />
&quot;The (store) experience is getting more enriching all the time,&quot; he said. &quot;We just saw the new Dolce and Gabbana store opening, Brunello Cucinelli is opening soon. The physical space of the store is still very important.<br />
<br />
&quot;Globally e-commerce is about ten percent of luxury goods. It is going to grow but at the same time there are markets like Iran that are going to want to buy clothes and they will want to have stores there.<br />
<br />
&quot;Via Montenapoleone will be around for another 100 years, maybe 200 years and hopefully it will be even more special than today.&quot;<br />
<br />
(AFP)

In Milan's swankiest shopping street, an end to the industry's ingrained elitism still seems a long way off

Social media are being credited with democratising the landscape of fashion in London and New York. But in Milan's swankiest shopping street, an end to the industry's ingrained elitism, with its invitation-only events and cosy tribalism, still seems a long way off. Via Montenapoleone, home to the flagship stores of the cream of Italian design, is where the conceptual currency of the catwalks is converted into hard cash. And in its glittering stores, platinum credit cards will keep the cash tills ringing long after the fashionistas have decamped to the next catwalk fest in Paris. Window-shopping with a friend, local Lila Sciacca says few in the city would dispute the economic benefits of fashion week: 48 million Euros ($54 million) was City Hall's estimate of the revenues driven by the last bash. An amateur dressmaker, Sciacca is one of millions of fashion fans who stream live webcasts of the catwalk shows to digital devices. But the exclusivity of the shows still rankles. "At the shows it is always the same cast of people," she told AFP. "If you are not an insider or in the business, you have to be connected. "And let's be frank, how many people can actually afford these clothes we are talking about when every day is a struggle to survive?" Also grumbling over fashion's exclusive reflexes is Milan's new mayor, Giuseppe Sala. The organiser of last year's successful World Expo, Sala recently told fashion chiefs that, "in terms of participation, there is much more than can be done." Italy's Chamber of Fashion hit back, citing 30 publicly accessible events running in parallel with the latest shows. Among them was "Outside In", an open air exhibition of new images by acclaimed British photographer Rankin that lined Via Montenapoleone. A veteran of the days when the club of fashion obsessives was much smaller than it is now, Rankin says his images of models in boxes displaying different emotions was designed as a celebration rather than a critique. "I really hate elitism in itself, so I am probably the opposite of most of the industry," he said. "But the art of fashion is something I have come to appreciate more and more so I did not want (the street exhibition) to be negative, I wanted it to be a celebration of what it is about." The photo-sharing website Instagram has had a hugely disruptive impact on the fashion world. The vast followings of models like Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevigne have made them hugely influential players, giving them the kind of commercial clout that was once the preserve of a handful of editors of glossy magazines. Rankin, the co-founder of influential 1990s style magazine Dazed & Confused, says the change is exciting, even if he has some misgivings. "I love photography so much I can't not get excited by a whole new generation that maybe would never have had the opportunity to learn or even think you can go to college to do photography "At the same time I studied for six years to become a photographer so when somebody shows me their Instagram picture I go slightly 'whoah'. "David Bailey had a great quote when he was asked about Instagram and social media and said 'It is just lots more people taking bad photos'. "Instagram and social media and being able to buy straight form the catwalk is the antithesis of what it used to be about. "It used to be a small world but it has gone from 100,000 people to maybe two to three million that are absolutely obsessed by it." The Rankin exhibition was the latest in a series commissioned by Guglielmo Miani, president of the Via Montenapoleone Association, an organisation comprised of 140 luxury brands associated with the famous street. Miani says allegations of snobbish exclusiveness are wide of the mark. "The truth is that this is a working week for professionals so it is, in a way, a closed circuit. That is why we decided to have an open-to-everyone exhibition." Growing online sales are also part of the disruptive wave fashion is currently surfing but Miani is confident it is one Via Montenapoleone and its counterparts in London, Paris and elsewhere can ride out. "The (store) experience is getting more enriching all the time," he said. "We just saw the new Dolce and Gabbana store opening, Brunello Cucinelli is opening soon. The physical space of the store is still very important. "Globally e-commerce is about ten percent of luxury goods. It is going to grow but at the same time there are markets like Iran that are going to want to buy clothes and they will want to have stores there. "Via Montenapoleone will be around for another 100 years, maybe 200 years and hopefully it will be even more special than today." (AFP)

An end to fashion elitism? Not in Milan

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An end to fashion elitism? Not in Milan